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Northe Calls for Boost to Police Resources

Northe calls for increase in police resources to tackle crime in the region.

By Portal Admin - 2nd March 2020 - Back to News

Member for Morwell Russell Northe has in Parliament this week, called upon the State Government to ensure the Latrobe Valley has adequate police resources to tackle crime in the region.

On the whole our local police do a wonderful job in challenging circumstances and they also need to be supported in undertaking their roles to their maximum capacity, and that means having ample police resources and personnel.

"Unfortunately Latrobe City sits very high on the number of criminal offences per capita list and it is imperative that police numbers reflect these same statistics", Mr Northe said.

Crime statistics in Latrobe City confirm the public concern; in September 2019 the criminal incident rate per 100,000 population was 13,305 and second only to Melbourne City Council area and compared to the State average of 6,032. This is a 1.8% increase from the previous year and a far cry from the rate of 8,297 in 2010 for Latrobe City.

"With each criminal offence there is always a victim and unfortunately being a victim of crime can have a long lasting legacy on many people", Mr Northe said.

"I know a number of people in our local community are frustrated and angry at the high level of crime in our community, and they want to know that we have sufficient police resources and that appropriate criminal penalties are applied to perpetrators found guilty of crimes", Mr Northe said.

"That’s why I have called upon the State Government to address these important issues and ensure people in my community can feel confident and safe in their homes and on the streets as they have every right to", Mr Northe said.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com